Cupra Born VZ review: a proper electric hot hatch or one to avoid?
July 02, 2025 by Darren Cassey
Car changing is a big deal
Electric hot hatches have largely fallen short of the mark, but the Cupra Born VZ could be the car to change all that. Reviews editor Darren Cassey has driven one to find out.
This is the Cupra Born VZ, an electric hot hatch hoping to entice petrolheads over to the world of zero-emission motoring. The recipe is enticing – more power and a rear-wheel drive layout has historically been what keen drivers are after – but it looks rather subdued with not much to differentiate it from the regular model.
It’s a bit like making a chicken tikka masala and sprinkling cayenne pepper into the mix. It might look mild but there’s a spicy kick underneath.
There was a time when a hot hatch cresting 300hp was big news. Now, the Born VZ’s 326hp almost feels tame. You get the typical electric kick off the line, and a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds is nothing to be sniffed at, but on the move you don’t quite get the drama and excitement of a fiery petrol-powered hot hatch.
Not that the Born VZ isn’t capable. While some electric performance cars, such as the MG4 XPower and Mini JCW Electric, feel like they’ve had loads of power chucked at them with little in the way of upgrades to tame said power, the Cupra has done things properly.
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You get upgraded suspension, steering and braking – not quite as serious as the ballistic Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but that car’s considerably more expensive. That said, they’re the sort of upgrades you’d expect to see on a traditional hot hatch, so they’re welcome nonetheless.
They work, too. The Cupra Born is already one of the sweeter electric cars to drive, but the VZ takes things up a notch. You have more confidence to carry more speed through a corner, and the rear-wheel drive layout means you feel the car hunker down and push you out of a corner as you accelerate. It can be a bit lairy if you’re overly confident with the throttle, too.
It’s a bit of a shame, then, that the styling doesn’t do much to emphasise its sporty genes. You get VZ-specific 20-inch alloy wheels and a couple of new paints, but that’s about it. It’s the same story inside, though the new bucket seats are comfortable yet hold you nicely in corners.
Enjoying the Born VZ just requires some recalibration, then. It’s a bit underwhelming at higher speeds, where a petrol hot hatch would hit you with some aural drama from the engine. But tight and twisty roads are its forte, just squeeze the throttle and enjoy the wave of all-electric power out of slower corners.
If you’re after a raucous hot hatch experience the Born VZ probably isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for a practical electric car that will be a willing and capable companion when taking the scenic route, it’s well worth a look.
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